More energy-efficient sawn-timber drying at sawmills

Drying sawn timber at sawmills is energy-intensive and can simultaneously lead to quality losses, limited production capacity, and high costs for equipment and operation.

The project has investigated the possibilities of improving energy efficiency in timber drying through optimized drying schedules, high-temperature drying, and shorter process times. The results indicate that energy use can be reduced while timber quality can be maintained under certain conditions.

The developed CT-based measurement technology combined with modeling has contributed to increased understanding of moisture transport and material behavior during drying. This creates conditions for more precise and material-adapted drying processes.

Overall, the project has built knowledge, methods, and tools that can contribute to the continued development of more energy-efficient and data-driven drying processes within the sawmill industry.